Kobra handle stained with ???

Been off the forum (and lots of other things) for a couple of weeks while life slapped me around, as it seems to want to do every couple of years. This is an old obsevation from the second week I had my Kumar Kobra. I took it to a "swung what ya brung" weapon seminar, which is kind of a tradition in my Kung Fu system. everyone brings whatever weapon they please, from Kwan Do, to Katana, to Khukuri, to tire iron, and we all spend a few hours practicing, while the Grandmaster runs around and gives us cool moves to try. He loves this stuff, though it looks like he is the proverbial "one legged man at an a.. kicking contest". the temp was around 90 by 10am with lots of humidity. I noticed pretty quick that the wood handle on the Kobra was stained with a reddish substance, some of which came off on my hand. The wood was beautifully darkened and patterned by sweat. A little later, while wiping my forhead, I noticed the most wonderful, smokey, scent. either the stain or the wood itself has an incredible "woodsmoke" odor. If it is the stain, is it something commonly available? I am thinking of trying to stain a small worktable I use for sharpening knives, it would be great to get my wife to stop giving me grief about the weapons oil smell I leave everywhere. (I know, I like the smell of gun oil, no accounting for tastes)
 
Hi Jack:

I think that stain is actually a polishing rouge that the kamis make themselves -- but from what I am not sure! But the woodsmoke smell might indicate that wood ashes are a part of the mix. In the village the kamis will often use ashes for polishing.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 07-19-2000).]
 
Rusty

Rusty

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Go to the pharmacy and ask for a bottle of clove oil. Mix it with about 1 to 4 ratio with a vegetable oil ( kama sutra oil is wonderful smelling mixed with it ). Matter of fact, plain old kama sutra oil in the inside of the scabbard and on the blade and handle and leather leaves a wonderful smell. Just the clove oil itself on the blade and put back in the scabbard for a week infuses itself into the wood.

Ahh, the smell of fresh ground coffee brewing, bacon frying*, and khuks with choji sutra oil on them.

*If your dietary rules permit.
 
Rusty, clove oil? Is that the same thing used for maintainance on Japanese blades? (Minus the Kama Sutra oil, I think)

By the way, the Kobra was immensely popular at the "swung what ya brung", though a couple of hours of swinging a point heavy blade through the air is actually more tiring than chopping with it, and I was really feeling it by the end.
 
Choji oil refers to cloves, but what is used for katanas is actually a mineral oil with oil of cloves added for scent.

But by the time I learned that, I'd already combined clove and kama sutra oils to make what I call choji sutra oil. Use carefully as it really softens up leather. Boy does it - you have a pair of tight or stiff shoes, a heavy application turns them into glove leather soft. It may also change leather color to a darker shade.

No reason to use it rather than commercial stuff except the wonderfull aroma, and if you are one who feels a spirit in the blade, a tribute to that spirit and the kami's forging of the spirit into a piece of steel.
 
Jack/Rusty/Bill,

I have been using Kurobara sword oil for years- made from camelia flowers, at least thats what I'm told. The information on the bottle is all in Japanese. Wood and leather seem to like it as much as steel. The stuff can be used as a skin softner if someone wants to. I have been getting it from "The Japan Woodworker" in California. I have been told that professional Japanese chefs use it on their hand forged kitchen knives because it is non-toxic and doesn't react with food.

Anyway it works at keeping rust away.

Thanks,

Finn
 
Gotta remember this.

It's like when I was into guns. Almost never went shooting, cause soon as I had money to buy more than the hundred rounds or so I stockpile, I'd walk in to the gunshop for ammo and come out with no ammo but a new gun.

Same with the Cantina. I get some money and Bill posts a deal.
 
Yeah, my 25 inch kobra had this stuff on the handle as well. I started to come off on some of the slightly rough spots on the wood, so I sanded the handle down and took the rest off. I noticed that the wood underneath was very dry, almost like driftwood, and somewhat spongy. I don't know if this was due to drying procedures or the stuff itself. I have been treating it periodically with Formby's lemon oil treatment, and the wood is getting it's color, luster, and hardness back. Personally, I don't like this coloring, whatever it is.
My $0.02

Tom
 
Found the Japanese Woodworker site, and I will order some of the kurobara oil. I also plan to try Rusty's choji sutra formula. Thanks guys! Great info. By the way, the Japanese Woodworker has some really cool stuff, just a little fyi.
 
:
Jack can you post us a link to The Japanese Woodworker?
Sounds like they may have some other things that I ma be interested in.
I understand thier backwards cutting fine teeth saws are awesome!!

You might kinda wanna watch out for Rusty's oil.
redface.gif

After some months of the little village khukuri being in my toolbox in my workroom it still smells ..... wonderful.
smile.gif

Speaking about that little khukuri Bro.
I found a lovely piece of very aged deer bone that has a natural curve in it. I haven't had time to really get down and look at it, but I am keeping my eyes open at powwows for any curved aged bone in case this one isn't perfect.
I believe it would be wonderful dressed out in something similar to ivory!!!!
smile.gif


A tip for anyone who wants to rehandle a khukuri with bone.
To stain any bone you can use instant tea. The ones with the lemon flavoring added works the best as it helps the bone to absorb the stain. Be careful to not over darken the bone. You can turn it almost black in some cases!!
Another tip after you have it all finished is to rub the bone with a non-drying oil. This helps to give the bone a very lovely patina that looks hundreds of years old.
That's what us Indins use on bone hairpipe beads to give them that aged look. I found out about the oil on my own.
It really helps to put the beads in a frying pan and heat the oil up, But ya cain't let yer wife catch ya doin' sech thangs.
redface.gif

Perhaps that oil Rusty came up with would be really nice for that.

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
When you hit the site, they have some stuff on this site, and a link to an online catalog service that has lots more.
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/

[This message has been edited by Jack M (edited 07-21-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Jack M (edited 07-21-2000).]
 
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